Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Anatomy Of A Badass: Nick Wooster

Odds are you've seen a picture of Nick Wooster on the internet. Dude is a mainstay of the streetstyle blogs and it's not hard to see why. Wooster, the Men's Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus Group Services (Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman), is pretty much the definition of a sartorial badass. I see him as a more accessible version of Philip Crangi in that Wooster, while exhibiting the same level of flat out ruggedness, adds tailored pieces and does away with some of Cragi's sartorial frivolity to keep his looks actually wearable. I would surmise that Wooster's diverse look is very much grounded in his equally diverse professional pedigree. Stints at John Bartlett, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein seem to have shaped Wooster's rugged, yet tailored aesthetic. Overall, he serves as a deadly serious example of a dude finding his style sweet spot, straight up killing it on the reg and getting yo' beard game tight.

Wuzzat mean? Well, according to one definition of "well-dressed," a well-dressed man is one who looks great in what he's wearing, but 15 minutes after you and he part, you can't remember what he was wearing (or at least not in detail). Will at A Suitable Wardrobe is often just on the side of that line, and so is still well dressed.

On the other hand, Wooster and Crangi dress to make an impression, and by the above definition, are not well dressed.

With their insistence on rules and understatement, the righteous herd of igents always miss out on both cool and any appreciation for the ridiculous. Of course, the crowd of cubs pawing over him are equally unoriginal.

This young gent looks awesome! He appears to have a muscular, thuggish (in a good way) upper-body, and yet still pulls off the Trad look with absolute success.

On a related note, could you ask Mr. Wooster to force my local Neiman Marcus store at Newport Beach, CA, to start stocking Kiton shoes and Barker Black shoes again? I was just ready to pull the trigger on 2-3 pair when they were cruelly snatched away from me.

Let me tell you, I lived with Woo in college and when I needed something inspiring to wear, I went right to his closet. He of course hated that, but back then necessity was still the mother of invention. Nothing has changed - he was a fashion horse then, and obviously is still. Woo, your look is Money.

To Anonymous June 23 5:52 - The guys is a fashion director.... I assume you're not... when you 're in this industry you breath and eat fashion and that's a must... otherwise you don't know what you're talking about...

Wooster is the poster boy of the 21st Century Bear:) Don't get me wrong I think he's a stylish cat. Wooster consistantly has a great look from the ankles up. Call me old guard but I'm not feeling the high water pant with an industrial boot.

Hey...I work in the mens industry in NYC and Nick Wooster's look is tight. The knocked up boots with a suit or sportjacket? I do that and it's a great look, mixing rugged with posh. And yeah, he's rocking that great camouflage jacket in his 40's/50's...dude's in better shape than a lot of younger guys so he can do that...looks like an artful man that means business...

I am out of the loop. Today I learned that Nick Wooster even existed. But what I can tell you is that it takes guts to go with your vision. He could play it safe, but he doesn't. he plays it right on the edge, and he plays it well. When you can say the same - then you can bitch that he's over the top. But for now he's over the top, as in soaring over the bar and I admire him for that.

so i wonder who inspired or dare i say copied his style a certain mr beckham, Mr Wooster, you have inspired me and i thought i was cool,and whats all this about his age, what do you lot want, when you get a certain age, do we all have to be put in a pigon hole, and be told how to dress and look

He is just one of those guys who have the taste and confidence to look good every day where most guys don't have the imagination do anything better than fall into yesterday's jeans and tee-shirts. I wish I could do the same

I've never heard of Nick Wooster until today; and even then he was referred to in a negative light (ripping on a pretentious bar). I personally think that he dresses as if he's trying to be a modern day Dom Draper. I have no idea how old he is, but looking at him I'd guess 61? Idk, I guess I just don't get the look he's going for :/